​"Molting" is the second piece I created in the Transformation Series. With this painting I really envisioned creating an idea of rebirth. I strove to use the first face as an idea of shedding off your old skin/perceptions/sins/ect.. I have the small face being born looking up to all the new possibilities this new world has to offer. It looks as if it is exhaling a huge breathe from his mouth. I tried to use this as a symbol of new beginnings. Once you shed off your old skin, you can let go of all the negative energy from your previous life, too begin anew. The blood washes you clean and has a religious context with the notion of Christ’s blood cleansing your sins and making you whole. I liked the idea of using very earthy colors because we all become dust in the end but what we do while we are alive is up to us. It is up to us to fill in the colors of our lives and we should always know that it is never too late to start again. Yet to do that it takes forgiveness not just from the people that surround and love us but even more importantly we need to forgive ourselves. We all make mistakes and live with burdens and regrets but we should never give up. We cannot let our demons win out and define who we are. We were made to be resilient, compassionate and strong. So in that strength we can find new life to hopefully live a better one than the first. 

"Will the Red Moon Arise" is my second painting and poem about my thoughts on a warriors spirit. This poem is also about the trials and tribulations of everyday life. I wanted to make this poem ambiguous so that people could relate it to their own lives. I chose the Samurai to represent my warrior in this painting for the ideology and code the Samurai lived by. I find that the Samurai represented the best of a warriors spirit in fighting for honor and devotion. Share with me your thoughts on the subject!

Click "read more" to read the full poem.